Highest Jellyfish in Virginia Today
Every spot we track, ranked by today's sea nettle chance from the latest VIMS and NOAA maps. Tap a name for the local report, maps, and beaches.
| Rank | Locality | Condition | Chance | Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westmoreland County | Heavy | 80% | Colonial Beach |
| 2 | Williamsburg | Heavy | 78% | College Creek shoreline |
| 3 | King George County | Heavy | 72% | Dahlgren Wayside Park |
| 4 | Middlesex County | Heavy | 72% | Urbanna Creek |
| 5 | Lancaster County | Heavy | 66% | Windmill Point - Westland Beach |
| 6 | James City County | Heavy | 63% | Jamestown Beach Event Park |
| 7 | Northumberland County | Heavy | 53% | Hughlett Point Natural Area |
| 8 | Newport News | Moderate | 37% | Huntington Park Beach |
| 9 | Suffolk | Moderate | 33% | Bennett's Creek Park |
| 10 | Mathews County | Moderate | 28% | Haven Beach |
| 11 | York County | Moderate | 26% | Yorktown Beach |
| 12 | Portsmouth | Light | 24% | Paradise Creek Nature Park |
| 13 | Gloucester County | Light | 23% | Gloucester Point Beach Park |
| 14 | Yorktown | Light | 23% | Yorktown Beach |
| 15 | Stafford County | Light | 22% | Aquia Landing Park |
| 16 | Alexandria | Light | 18% | Waterfront Park |
| 17 | Poquoson | Light | 13% | Messick Point |
| 18 | Hampton | Light | 8% | Buckroe Beach |
| 19 | Norfolk | Light | 8% | Ocean View Beach Park |
| 20 | Virginia Beach | Light | 4% | Virginia Beach Oceanfront |
| 21 | Chesapeake | Light | 0% | Great Bridge Lock Park |
Best beaches to avoid jellyfish today · Worst jellyfish beaches today
Latest Source Maps
VIMS jellyfish map for today, Virginia
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VIMS jellyfish map for tomorrow, Virginia
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NOAA Full Bay jellyfish map for today, Virginia
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NOAA Full Bay jellyfish map for tomorrow, Virginia
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Your Virginia jellyfish report for today
This is a free, fast way to check whether jellyfish are likely at a Virginia beach before you swim. The maps and labels above are the Chesapeake Bay jellyfish forecast for today, translated into plain language so you do not have to read a color scale. The jellyfish we track are sea nettles, the main stinging jellyfish in the bay and its rivers.
Where the forecast comes from
We do not model jellyfish ourselves. We republish and explain the daily sea nettle forecasts from two trusted public science groups: the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). Every day we archive their public forecast maps, read the values near each Virginia locality, and turn them into simple labels. You can read the full method on the about the data page.
How to read the labels
The labels describe a modeled chance of running into sea nettles, not a count of jellyfish in the water. In plain terms:
- Light: sea nettles are unlikely, though never impossible.
- Moderate: a real chance of nettles. Consider a rash guard and check the water.
- Heavy: sea nettles are likely. A good day to pick a lighter beach or skip the swim.
Because it is a forecast, treat it as a helpful check, not a promise. Wind and tide can move jellyfish around within a day, so always look at the water before you get in.
Who this is for
This site is for anyone heading to a Virginia beach: families, swimmers, paddlers, and crabbers who just want to know if today is a nettle day. Start with your local beach page, compare spots with the best beaches to avoid jellyfish today ranking, and learn the yearly pattern in the jellyfish season guide. If you do get stung, our sting first aid guide walks through what to do.
Virginia City and County Reports
Gloucester County
York River, Mobjack Bay, Chesapeake Bay
Hampton
Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay, James River
James City County
James River, Chickahominy River, York River
Lancaster County
Rappahannock River, Chesapeake Bay
Mathews County
Mobjack Bay, Chesapeake Bay
Middlesex County
Rappahannock River, Piankatank River, Chesapeake Bay
Newport News
James River, Hampton Roads
Norfolk
Chesapeake Bay, Elizabeth River, Hampton Roads
Northumberland County
Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay
Poquoson
Chesapeake Bay, Back River, Poquoson River
Virginia Beach
Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay
Westmoreland County
Potomac River
Williamsburg
College Creek, Queen's Creek, James River
York County
York River, Chesapeake Bay
Yorktown
York River, Chesapeake Bay
Alexandria
Potomac River
Chesapeake
Elizabeth River, Intracoastal Waterway
King George County
Potomac River, Rappahannock River
Portsmouth
Elizabeth River, Hampton Roads
Stafford County
Potomac River, Aquia Creek
Suffolk
Nansemond River, James River
Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there jellyfish in the Chesapeake Bay right now?
It depends on the day and the beach. Sea nettles are mostly a summer problem, and conditions shift with heat, salt, and rain. Check the Virginia jellyfish report for today or your local beach page for the latest forecast.
Does Virginia Beach have jellyfish?
The Virginia Beach oceanfront on the Atlantic usually sees fewer sea nettles than the Chesapeake Bay, since it is a different kind of water. Bay-side spots around the city can see more in summer. See the Virginia Beach jellyfish report for today's read.
What months are worst for jellyfish in Virginia?
The middle of summer is usually the peak, when the water is warmest and saltiest. Sea nettles appear in early summer, build through mid to late summer, and fade in fall. The season guide explains the pattern.
Do Chesapeake Bay jellyfish sting?
Sea nettles do, and their sting is usually painful but not dangerous for most healthy people. Moon jellies sting only very mildly, and comb jellies do not sting at all. If you get stung, see our sting first aid guide.
Are jellyfish dangerous to dogs?
A sea nettle can sting a dog, and a beached jelly can still sting even if it looks dead. Keep dogs from sniffing or biting jellyfish on the sand, and rinse the area with seawater if your dog is stung. Call your vet if your dog seems unwell or has a strong reaction.
How do I avoid getting stung by jellyfish?
Check the daily forecast, favor early season or fall, choose fresher or oceanfront water when the bay reads heavy, wear a rash guard, and leave beached jellies alone. See the full how to avoid jellyfish guide.
What is the clear jelly that does not sting?
That is almost certainly a comb jelly, which is not a true jellyfish. Comb jellies are small, clear, and have no long tentacles, and they are harmless to swimmers. Our species guide shows how to tell the bay's jellyfish apart.
Where are jellyfish lowest in Virginia today?
It changes daily, so the best way to find a lighter spot is the best beaches to avoid jellyfish today page. It ranks Virginia beaches by the latest forecast so you can pick a calmer place to swim.
Source maps are model guidance from VIMS and NOAA/NCCOS. They are useful for a quick beach check, but they do not count jellyfish in the water and may not match conditions at every shoreline.